Harris blooms for ‘Roses’

Tony darling to star in Ross play, Edelstein to helm

NEW YORK — Everything’s coming up roses for the woman who’s won more Tony Awards than anyone in the business. Julie Harris, who has won five statuettes, will seek her eleventh nomination toplining “Scent of the Roses.”

Poised to land on Broadway after a run at the Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center in Nyack this October and November, the new play from South African playwright Lisette Lecat Ross centers on “a woman who’s having a hard time living with her past,” said lead producer Arthur Cantor.

Cantor is inking a deal this week for “Scent” to take up residence at the Shubert-owned, 1,018-seat Belasco on Dec. 1.

“Scent” focuses on the emotional interplay between Harris’ character, a former journalist, and the child she had given up for adoption years ago in South Africa.

Gordon Edelstein, the artistic director of Seattle’s A Contemporary Theater (which mounted a production of “Scent” last year), is attached to reprise his role as helmer for the Broadway production.

Both Harris and Ross were repped in the deal by Biff Liff at the William Morris Agency in Gotham.